How the Heart Works

How the heart works - The main function of the heart is to pump blood throughout the body. As a means of transportation in the body, blood is responsible for carrying nutrients and oxygen needed by the body's organs, as well as transporting waste materials. The heart and blood vessels form the cardiovascular system to ensure our survival.

A normal and healthy heart is supported by strong muscle tissue and works well in pumping blood. The heart that beats continuously in pumping blood can drain more than 14,000 liters of blood per day.

How the heart works?

The human heart is almost the size of a fist, divided into four parts, namely the right and left foyer, and the right and left chambers. Each room of the heart is separated by a wall layer called the septum.

Blood is pumped through these parts. To ensure the flow of blood flow, there are valves that can open and close. All valves are in charge of keeping blood flowing in the right direction. There are four valves in the heart, namely:

The mitral valve is between the left porch and the left ventricle. This valve normally has two valve leaves, hence the bicuspid valve.

Aortic valve, located between the left ventricle and the aorta or pulse shaft.

Tricuspid valve, located between the right porch and right ventricle, and has three valve leaves.

Pulmonary valve; it is located between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery.

How it works and heart function based on its parts

Each part of the anatomy of the heart has its own function. The following is the explanation in more detail.

Right porch

Inside the right porch, there is dirty blood. Dirty blood is oxygen-poor blood, enters the right porch through the superior and inferior vena cava. From the right porch, blood is pumped into the right chamber. In the fetal heart, there is a hole in the right foyer to allow blood to flow directly to the left foyer. This is important for fetal circulation because the fetus's lungs have not been able to work so the fetus will take oxygen-rich clean blood directly from the mother. After birth, the baby's lungs expand and begin functioning. The hole will be closed and make a boundary between the right and left foyer.

Right room

This is the part responsible for pumping dirty blood into the lungs so that carbon dioxide can be exchanged with oxygen through the breathing process. The booth is under the right porch and next to the left booth.

Dirty blood flowing through the right porch will pass through the tricuspid valve to get to the right ventricle. This blood is then pumped into the lungs through the pulmonary valve and travels through the pulmonary artery.

If this part of the heart does not function properly, so it can no longer pump efficiently, you can experience right heart failure.

Left porch

This part is responsible for receiving clean blood from the lungs. Clean blood is blood that contains oxygen. Clean blood enters the left porch through a vein or pulmonary vein. This blood is then pumped into the left ventricle through the mitral valve.

Left booth

The left ventricle of the heart is located below the left porch and is separated by a mitral valve. The left ventricle is the thickest part of the heart and is responsible for pumping clean blood throughout the body. The condition of high blood pressure can cause the left ventricular muscle to enlarge and harden, due to the increased workload of the left ventricle in pumping blood. If this happens continuously, the function of the left ventricle in pumping blood throughout the body can be disrupted.

Thus the importance of the function of the heart, it is fitting that we take care of it by applying a healthy lifestyle, including consuming lots of vegetables and fruits, exercising regularly, and especially not smoking. If you experience a disturbance in heart function, immediately see a doctor to get treatment.